Young NFL stars provide plenty of pressure

Dec. 19, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt Smith is tied for the league lead with 19.5 sacks – three shy of Michael Strahan's single-season record with two games to go. STEPHAN SAVOIA, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt Smith is tied for the league lead with 19.5 sacks – three shy of Michael Strahan's single-season record with two games to go. STEPHAN SAVOIA, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FANTASY PICKUP OF THE WEEK

WR Dexter McCluster, Chiefs

Wait, a Chief? A Kansas City Chief? The team that scores a touchdown a week if the stars align? It's about opportunity at this point in the season, and McCluster has one. With Dwayne Bowe out for the season, McCluster became the most-targeted Chiefs receiver last week. He caught seven of the 10 passes sent his way, for 59 yards. The Colts' pass defense isn't very good. And as an added bonus, McCluster is RB eligible in ESPN and Yahoo! leagues.

Every time an NFL draft produces a plethora of promising passers, we hear all about the all-time great quarterback classes. This year's crop is drawing comparisons to 2004, which was the best since 1999, which was the best since 1983.

But what about the guys whose job it is to crush those quarterbacks? When will a supreme class of pass rushers get its due?

That time is now. The three leading sackers in the NFL — and the top three candidates for Defensive Player of the Year — all came from the class of 2011. Von Miller (No. 2 pick, Denver), Aldon Smith (No. 7, San Francisco) and J.J. Watt (No. 11, Houston) are embarrassing offensive linemen and terrorizing offensive backfields on a weekly basis. Although it's early in their careers, the three 23-year-olds have a chance to become the best collection of sack artists any one draft has delivered.

"I would say it stacks up against any year," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "Right now they're looking like future Hall of Famers. If their careers keep going the way they are, they're going to be in Canton."

A sampling of their accomplishments to date:

Smith and Watt are tied for the league lead with 19.5 sacks — three shy of Michael Strahan's single-season record with two games to go.

Smith's 33.5 career sacks are the most by any player in the first two seasons of a career in NFL history.

Since the league began tracking passes defensed in 1991, Watt is the only player to record at least 15 sacks and 15 passes defensed in the same season.

Miller is just the second player since 1994 to record at least 15 sacks, 25 total tackles for losses and five forced fumbles in a season.

All three of their teams have clinched playoff berths and have a combined record of 33-8-1.

The only comparable trio from one draft since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 is the class of '85, which produced Bruce Smith, Kevin Greene and Chris Doleman. They rank 1, 3 and 4 on the all-time list.

Miller, Smith and Watt have different dimensions and play different positions — Miller is a 6-foot-3, 237-pound 4-3 outside linebacker; Smith a 6-4, 258-pound 3-4 OLB; and Watt a 6-5, 295-pound 3-4 defensive end — but in a basic sense, they're the same.

"Game-changers," Oakland offensive tackle Jared Veldheer said.

Veldheer and the Raiders have faced Miller and the Broncos four times over the past two seasons.

Miller won the 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He's better now, Veldheer said.

"Every game you watch, he's learning something new or (has) a new move," said Veldheer, who has studied him extensively.

"He's got an arsenal. You can't just say, 'If I take this away from him I can stop all the other stuff.' "

Miller relies on speed more than his draft mates — "He may be the fastest guy on their defense, corners and safeties included," said All-Pro Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas, whose Browns visit the Broncos on Sunday — but complements it with expert hand usage.

Smith, who's close friends with Miller, possesses an uncommon blend of speed and strength.

"To be able to go from speed rush to power and make that transfer, that's unique, that's rare," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said.

Miami rookie tackle Jonathan Martin found out the hard way in Week 14. Smith drove Martin into quarterback Ryan Tannehill's lap before tackling Tannehill for a sack.

"The hesitation bull rush," Veldheer said, knowingly. "It's a good move. Everyone's been there at one time or another. It's not a great feeling."

No one ever has reached Watt's level when it comes to sacking quarterbacks and knocking down their passes. Bill Belichick's New England Patriots — the only team to have faced all three Class of '11 rushers this season — prepared for Watt by arming scout-team defenders with racquetball racquets.

Before that Week 14 matchup, Belichick said Watt "looks like the Defensive Player of the Year to me," and who'd know better? Lawrence Taylor won the award three times under Belichick's tutelage. Watt didn't brush off the compliment.

"That's my job," he said. "That's what they're paying me to do, to be disruptive and try to be the best in the league. I've always said all along, if your goal is not to be the greatest, then you're kind of wasting your time."

Watt is renowned for his consistency, effort and professionalism. If any of those waver, he doesn't have to look far for motivation.

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